Tesla has recalled nearly 500,000 electric cars in the United States (US) due to a ‘Boombox’ feature that can obscure auditory pedestrian alerts.
According to records released on Thursday, this is Tesla’s fourth public recall in a few weeks, with watchdogs accusing the company of ignoring safety standards. As a result, American regulators are conducting a thorough investigation into the carmaker.
Safety Sounds
The sounds that electric and hybrid vehicles must make to alert pedestrians must be milder than those made by vehicles with internal combustion engines, according to American authorities.
This time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims that the cars’ pedestrian warning system may not be loud enough because louder sounds may obscure it.
Tesla’s Boombox option, which allows personalised sounds like music to be produced from an outside speaker when the car is parked or moving, has been observed to interfere with that warning.
In a recall notice dated February 4, it stated that this feature “could increase the risk of a collision,” and that Tesla is unaware of any accidents caused by this issue.
Other Safety Issues in Tesla Cars
In addition, on February 1, the NHTSA issued a recall for nearly 54,000 vehicles to repair a drive-assist system that allows Tesla cars to pass through stop signs without fully pausing in certain situations.
Two days later, it announced a recall of 817,143 carss to repair the seatbelt warning system, which occasionally fails.
On Wednesday, the EPA also issued a recall for 26,681 vehicles to address a software flaw affecting a heat pump valve, which can impair the ability to defrost the windshield.
For a long time, the electric cars manufacturer has been performing remote software updates without informing consumers or authorities. The NHTSA, on the other hand, has stepped up its efforts against the company, including opening an investigation last summer in response to three crashes involving emergency vehicles, and is seeking more information from Tesla in this regard.
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